Loose-leaf binder



Aug. 30, 1955 E. A. THESIERES 2,716,409

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed June 27, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l we 4am 1 j l 2f f 42 l 'f f 36 I /f 27 /2 4 6 4 *j l f INVENTOR.

3 3 lvl r ERNESTHTHEmEREs Aug. 30, 1955 E. A. THESIERES LOOSE-LEAF BINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 27, 1952 o M, 4 .e9 7, w www .H w .Iomrlmm n J TIM Il ril Hull? J5 H I ,l .ha 4 l 4 n m w 2 .QH/4. 3.# 1 d o 3 3 l 2 L f & 2 d, 3 5 9 .J 2 2 Ill 9 Mw a INVENTOR.

BY ERNEST Q.THE5\ERES ATTORNEY United States lPatent fiice 2,716,409 Patented Aug. 30, 1955 LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Ernest A. Thesieres, Springfield, Pa.

Application June 27, 1952, Serial No. 295,899

6 Claims. (Cl. 129-8) This invention relates generally to binders for sheet material and is more particularly concerned with an improved construction for loose leaf binders.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a loose leaf binder having shiftable sheet retaining means which effects maximum exposure of the bound margins of parted sheets retained thereby.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a loose leaf binder having a nonexpansible back panel with such shiftable sheet retaining means.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a loose leaf binder with such means adapted for the quick and easy changing of the sheets retained thereby.

Other objects and advantages ofthe present invention will appear more fully hereinafter, it being understood that the specific cembodiments of the invention described herein are illustrative and that modifications thereof falling within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the interior of a loose leaf binder incorporating the present invention;

Figure 2 is au enlarged view of the binder of Figure l, only part of the cover being shown;

Figure 3 is similar to Figure 2 but the sheet retaining means is shown shifted to expanded position;

Figure 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows but showing the binder closed;

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 2 but shows the sheet retaining means unlocked and swung into position for the changing of sheets;

Figure 7 is a section on line 7 7 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 is a section on line 8 8 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 9 is a section on line 9 9 of Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows, the parts being shown in position for the changing of sheets;

Figure 10 is a partial section through the back panel of the loose leaf binder showing an alternate form of guide for the shiftable retaining means, parts being omitted for the sake of clarity;

Figure ll is a partial section through the back panel of the loose leaf binder showing still another form of guide for the Shiftable retaining means, parts being omitted for the sake of clarity.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to Figures l to 3, inclusive, it will be observed that the binder of the present invention essentially comprises a cover designated generally by the numeral 10 which mounts suitable guiding means for a sheet retaining assembly designated generally by the numeral 11.

The cover 10 has a central back panel 12 which is flanked on opposite sides respectively by front and rear panels 13 and 14. Each of these panels is of rigid con- 2 struction, and the front and rear panels are conventionally joined to the central panel as at 15 and 16 for opening and closing the binder in the usual manner.

In the form of the present invention shown in Figures l to 9, inclusive, the aforementioned guiding means is in the form of a pair of similar plate members 17 17 associted respectively with .the head and foot portions of the back panel 12. Each plate member 17 is turned back upon itself to afford a pair of legs 18 and 19. The leg 19 is crimped as at 20 to position the free terminal portion thereof in parallel spaced relation to the opposed portion of the leg 18, thus forming therewith a guideway 21 which extends the full length of the plate member 17. The latter is rigidly secured to the back panel 12 by means of rivets 22-22 which are projected through alined openings therein as shown. When thus secured, the plate members 17 17 extend across the major portion of the back panel 12 and the guideways 2.1 21- are positioned in opposed parallel relation to one another.

The sheet retaining assembly is in the form of a pairof parallel members 23 and 24 extending between the plate members 17 17 and respectively along the opposite side portions of the back panel 12.

The member 23 includes a plate 25 and a mounting bar 26 detachably secured together. The former is provided with a longitudinally extending bend which affords a pair of legs 27 and 28 disposed in normal relation to one another. Positioned in side abutting relation to leg 28 on the side thereof remote from leg 27 is a ilat elongated locking bar 29 provided with a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending slots 30 through which project the body portions of rivets 31, the latter being rigidly secured to the leg 28 and the under surface of their heads being thereby positioned for engagement with the side of the locking bar 29 remote from leg 28. The terminal portion of locking bar 29 proximate the foot of the binder extends beyond the leg 28 and is turned as at 32 to form a finger grip for manually shifting the locking bar 29 between locked and unlocked positions, this shifting movement being rectilinear and being limited in either direction by the length of slots 30.

The leg 28 has opposite end portions provided respectively with notches 33 33 which open on the free longitudinal edge thereof and which, assuming that the bar 29 l is in unlocked position, register respectively with the outer portions 34 34 of L-shaped notches in opposite end portions of locking bar 29, the inner portions 35-35 of these L-shaped notches extending longitudinally of the locking bar 29.

The mounting bar 26 is in the form of a fiat elongated member upon the inner face of which are rigidly mounted two or more suitably spaced post elements 36 36 which extend in parallel relation to one another, the outer face of the said mounting bar having rigidly secured thereto respectively adjacent the opposite ends thereof a pair of locking pins 37 37. Normally the mounting bar 26 is disposed in side abutting relation to leg 28 on the side thereof remote from locking bar 29, in which position the locking pins 37 37 are engaged respectively with the notches 33 33 in leg 28 and with the inner portions 35 35 of the L-shaped notches in the locking bar 29. It will be observed that the inner notch portions 35 35 are comparatively nar row and that they respectively engage necks 38 38 formed on pins 37 37, the necks 38 38 being formed by reduction of intermediate portions of pins 37 37, which reduction also provides these pins respectively with heads 39 39 positioned for engaging the side of locking bar 29 remote from leg 28. It will also be observed that when the mounting bar 26 is thus locked in its normal .position the post elements 36-36 are 3 disposed to extend over the leg 27 of the plate 25 in spaced parallel relation thereto.

The member 24 of the sheet retaining assembly in- Vcludes a pair of plates 49 and 41 which are pivotally secured together in a conventional manner through the medium of a rod 42 positioned along abutting longitudinally extending edges of the plates. The plate 41 is tted with a plurality of rigidly mounted tubular post elements 43-4-3 respectively adapted to telescopically t over the post elements 36-36 of the mounting bar The opposite end portions of the leg; 27 of plate 25 and the opposite end portions of plate 40 are received respectively by guideways 21-21 for shifting movement of members 23 and 24 relative to one another, and normally the plate 41 is positioned so that the post elements 43-43 extend over the plate 4t) in spaced relation thereto and are disposed in telescoping relation respectively to the post elements 36-36 mounted by the bar 26. the members 23 and 24 away from one another, the legs 19-19 of the plate members 17--17 are provided respectively with central cut-outs 44-44 opening on the free terminal edges thereof and affording the tang elements 45. Projecting into the cut-outs 44-44 are other tang elements 46 formed by turning opposite end portions of the leg 27 out of the plane of the leg 27 and opposite end portions of plate 40 out of the plane of the latter, the tang elements 45 and 46 being thus disposed for engagement with one another to limit shifting movement of the members 23 and 24 away from one another. For limiting the shifting movement of the members 23 and 24 toward one another the post elements 43-43 are made greater in length than the post elements 36-36 so that the shifting movement of the members 23 and 24 toward one another is limited by engagement of post elements 43-43 with the base portions of post elements 36-36. It will be obseiyed that the combined width of the plate 40 and of the leg 27 of the plate 25 is such that when the post elements 43-43 are engaged with the base portions of post elements S6-36 the proximate longitudinal edges of the plate 40 and of the leg 27 of the plate 2S are disposed in close adjacent relation to one another and the leg 28 of the plate 25 and the plate 41 are spaced from one another a suicient distance for positioning of the legs 19-19 of the plate members 17-17 therebetween. In this connection, the opposite end portions of mounting bar 26 are notched as at 47-47 for positioning the plate 25 with the leg 28 thereof in abutting g,

relation to the legs 19-19 of the plate members 17-17.

In lieu of the guiding means shown in Figures l to 9 and described hereinabove, the guiding means shown in Figure l0 may be employed. in this form of guiding means a sole plate 4S which extends from the head to the foot of the binder is utilized in conjunction with separate plate members 49-49 which are similar to legs 19-19 of plate members 17-17, the sole plate 48 and the plate members 49-49 being secured to the back panel 12 by means of rivets 50.

Another form of the guiding means is shown in Figure 1l, wherein the plate members 49-49 are secured directly to the back panel 12 without the benefit of a sole plate.

Referring particularly to Figure 9, it will be observed that the binder is there shown with the parts thereof disposed for changing sheets. When the binder has been loaded with the sheets designated by the numeral 51, the post elements 156-35 are fully inserted respectively into the tubular post elements 43-43, and mounting bar 26 is thereby brought into close adjacent relation to the proximate end portions of tubular post elements i3-43. The front panel 1-3 is thenraised and shifted toward the rear panel 14 in order to swing the back panel around for engagement of the notches For limiting the shifting movement of 33-33 of the leg 28 of plate 2S and of the registering notch portions 34-34 of the L-shaped notches in the locking bar 29 with the locking pins 37-37 carried by the mounting bar 26, whereupon the locking bar 29 is grasped by the finger grip 32 and shifted to its locked position wherein the notch portions 35-35 of the L- shaped notches in the locking bar 29 respectively engage the necks 38-38 of the'locking pins 37-37. In this condition of the binder the sheets 51 are securely retained in place.

The binder will pass from the condition just described or that shown in Figure 5 to its expanded condition when the cover 1i) is opened and the sheets 51 are parted as shown by broken lines in Figure 4. Referring particularly to Figure 5, it will be observed that the width of back panel 12 is such that when the panels 1; and i4 are in closed position, they respectively abut the opposite sides of the sheet retaining assembly and effectively restrain the members 23 and 24 thereof from shifting movement away from one another. When the panels 13 and 14 are in opened position, this restraint is removed, and the members 23 and 24 are free to shift away from one another when the sheets 51 are parted as shown in Figure 4, this latter movement being limited by the engagement of tang elements 45 with tang elements 46 so that the post elements 36-36 remain engaged respectively with post elements 43-43, all as plainly shown in Figures 3 and 4. It will be observed that in the condition of the binder shown in Figure 4, the bound margins of the parted sheets are fully exposed to view.

For closing the binder, it is only necessary to lift front panel 13 and rear panel 14 to fold them upon one another to the position thereof shown in Figure 5. The panels 13 and 14 respectively engage the 0pposite sides of the sheet retaining assembly during this folding movement and shift the members 23 and 24 toward one another and simultaneously close the sheets retained thereby.

For changing the sheets retained by the binder, the closed binder is positioned with the rear panel 14 on a supporting surface, and the front panel 13 is then swung open to expose the locking bar 29, which is then shifted to opened position. The front panel 13 is then pulled away 'from the rear panel 14, the back panel 13 being thus positioned for disengagement oi the plate 25 and the locking bar 29 from the mounting bar 26. The latter is now lifted for disengagement of the post elements 36-36 carried thereby from the tubular post elements 43-43. In this condition of the binder, as will be observed from Figure 9, the sheets retained thereby may be readily changed.

It should be apparent that a loose leaf binder has been provided which may be readily adapted to accommodate any desired number of sheets of almost any size and punching. The sheets retained by the binder may be quickly and easily changed. In addition, the sheet retaining assembly functions in a manner affording maximum exposure of the bound margins of parted sheets, this eiect bei; ing attained without any necessity for a telescoping or that the present invention is susceptible to various changes,

modications and applications which may be made from time to time Without departing from the principles thereof and lthat it is intended to claim the invention broadly,

as well as specifically, as indicated inthe appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In a binder for loose sheets of material, an elongated rigid back panel, a pair of side covers hingedly secured one to each lside of said panel for free swinging movement relative thereto, said panel and covers defining fixed overall dimensions for the binder, guide means carried by said panel and aiording a pair of guideways extending respectively across the head and foot of said panel, and an assembly on the inner face of said panel operative to secure loose sheets of material to said panel, said assembly comprising a pair of members extending longitudinally of said panel and freely and independently slidably carried by said panel independently of the covers with their opposite end portions engaged respectively in said guideways for guiding said members in free shifting movement thereof transversely inwardly and outwardly over the inner face of said panel, stop means carried by said panel limiting the shifting movement of said members outwardly over said face of said panel, post mounting parts on said members, and post elements on said parts disposed in spaced relation to said back panel, said post elements being adapted to receive and to retain said loose sheets of material, said mounting parts being adapted to side abut the bound marginal portions respectively of the top and bottom sheets of said loose material, said members being thereby adapted to be shifted transversely of said panel in opposite directions by said loose sheets of material to the limit afforded by said stop means when said sheets are parted, and said outward shifting movement effecting a maximum exposure of the bound margins of said sheets of material, while said post elements are maintained in sheet retaining condition.

2. A binder for loose sheets of material as delned n claim l, wherein post elements on one member telescope with corresponding post elements on the other member, and said stop means is located to limit the said outward shifting movement of said members so as to retain said post elements in telescoping relationship.

3. A binder for loose sheets of material as defined in claim 2, wherein said slidably carried members are positioned opposite one another on said panel and have corresponding plate parts, the plate parts of one of said members being integrally formed and the post elements mounted thereon being detachable therefrom, the plate parts of the other member being pivotally secured together for swinging movement of said telescoped post elements as a unit away from said back panel.

4. In a binder of the character defined in claim 1 wherein the means carried by the back panel and affording a pair of guideways comprises a pair of plate members each turned back upon itself and rigidly secured t0 said panel, the member being thus provided with opposed spaced portions which form a guideway.

5. In a binder of the character defined in claim 1 wherein the means carried by the back panel and affording a pair of guideways comprises a pair of plate members rigidly secured to said panel each having a portion thereof spaced from said panel and coacting with the opposed portion of the panel to form a guideway.

6. In a binder of the character defined in claim 1 wherein the means carried by the back panel and affording a pair of guideways comprises a sole plate and a pair of additional plate members rigidly secured to said panel, each of said additional plate members having a portion thereof spaced from said sole plate and coacting with the opposed portion thereof to form a guideway.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,634,956 Miller July 5, 1927 1,954,494 Schade Apr. 10, 1934 2,200,460 Unger et al May 14, 1940 2,255,136 Vogt et al Sept. 9, 1941 2,612,167 Buenger et al. Sept. 30, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 479,924 Canada Jan. 1, 1952 

